France Launches New push to Boost Lagging vaccination Rates
Paris, France – A national vaccination campaign begins this Tuesday, spearheaded by Health Insurance, aiming to reverse concerning declines in flu and COVID-19 immunization coverage. Authorities are prioritizing increased communication, utilizing television and social media platforms to reach vulnerable populations and younger demographics.
Last winter revealed significant gaps in protection, with only 46.5% of at-risk individuals receiving the flu vaccine and a mere 21.7% of those over 65 years old getting the COVID-19 vaccine. despite this, surveys indicate strong public support for vaccination among seniors, with 80% expressing a favorable view. The campaign seeks to translate this positive sentiment into higher uptake, addressing a critical public health concern as winter approaches and respiratory viruses circulate.
“The objective is to achieve the recommendations of WHO, which aims for vaccination coverage of 75% for the populations most at risk,” explained Dr. Antonin Bal. “There is real room for betterment.” Health officials emphasize that vaccination isn’t about eliminating infection entirely, but about mitigating severe illness in those most susceptible.
Director General of Health, Professor Didier Lepelletier, underscored the importance of clear and consistent messaging. “The confidence of the French in vaccination is based on the clarity and consistency of our messages,” he stated during a recent press briefing. Dr. Bal further reinforced the collective benefit of immunization,stating,”protecting yourself also means protecting others,it is a collective duty.”
